A Rooster in the Henhouse, the one-man play written by and featuring John O'Hern, will extend to Oct. 25 in its New York premiere at The Lion Theatre.

John O'Hern in Rooster in the Henhouse.
Photo by Ted Horowitz

Performances began Sept. 17 in the Theatre Row complex on West 42nd Street. The show was announced to Oct. 4, but continues three weeks beyond that date.

Mark S. Graham directs the piece, billed as "one man's story of liberation from the day-to-day grind of a daily job and his subsequent journey into the world of becoming a stay-at-home dad." Opening was Sept. 21.

*

According to production notes, "It is also a personal examination of the effects of the long-term relationship on marital sex, on getting pregnant in the midst of sexual starvation and the resulting pregnancy and delivery. It is a man's perspective on the intimate details of birthing classes, gynecological visits and the feeding and nesting habits of the pregnant spouse. In short, it's a love story."

During the show, O'Hern plays a variety of characters including his wife, his children, an Irish bartender, an Indian anesthesiologist and a Jamaican nurse. Lighting design is by Greg MacPherson. O'Hern's regional theatre roles include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Jim in The Glass Menagerie and Philip in Alan Ayckborn's Relatively Speaking. Off-Broadway, he created the role of Fred McMullen in OUT. He is a member of the Westport Theater Artists Workshop.

Director Graham has been working with O'Hern on Rooster in the Henhouse for the past 18 months. Graham has directed over 50 plays and musicals including Me and Jezebel at The Actors Playhouse and The Ballroom in New York City. He has produced and directed Me and Jezebel in productions across the country including a production in Florida starring Jim Bailey. He has directed and produced with Scott Robbins, Stan Lachow's Harry and Thelma in The Woods in readings with Rue McClanahan at the Miranda Theatre in New York City and productions at The New Jersey Rep and the Hollywood Playhouse in Florida. He staged a musical version of Dark of the Moon at The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. For 10 years he was partners with the late Tony Award-winning producer Lester Osterman. He was general manager of Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater in Westport, CT. Graham has an MFA in directing from the University of Connecticut and is on the Board of the Theater Artist's Workshop in Connecticut.

The performance schedule at The Lion Theater (410 West 42nd St.) is 8 PM Tuesdays-Saturdays, with 3 PM matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM (no matinee on Sept. 21).

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the box office or through Telecharge at (212) 239-6200.